Chapter 2

Evelyn's POV

Marcus frowns. "What the hell are you talking about? You don't need it? You've been fighting with your sister over everything since you were kids. Now we're offering it to you and suddenly you're too good for it?"

Dad jumps in immediately. "Exactly. Drop the act. We said we'd give it to you, so we will. You don't get to play martyr now."

Mom sighs. "You've always been like this."

I'm looking at all three of them. Every face showing the same thing: they don't trust me.

Memories flood back.

Third grade. I won the state science fair. My teacher made a big deal about it at the parent-teacher conference. Kaley came home crying, saying she wanted a trophy too. That night, mine disappeared into the storage closet. Dad said, "It's just a trophy. What's the big deal if your sister has it?"

Middle school. My best friend invited me to her sleepover party. Kaley heard about it and begged Mom and Dad to let her go instead. She's the one who ended up going. I stayed home. My friend asked me at school why I didn't show up. I couldn't bring myself to explain.

Senior prom. I'd saved up six months of part-time job money for a dress. Kaley saw it and said she liked it better. The next day, it was hanging in her closet. Mine had some cheap knockoff in its place.

I was never the one who liked competing. I just wanted things that were mine. But in this family, the second I have something, it's already gone.

Even Marcus got taken from me with her lies.

Kaley looks up at me. Her eyes aren't weak. They're showing off.

I turn and head upstairs. Behind me, I can hear them laughing. Warm and cozy. Nothing to do with me.

The next few days are weirdly calm.

I signed the consent form, so they've finally stopped hounding me every other day.

Marcus is at the house every day now, keeping Kaley company. I can hear them laughing downstairs, smell bacon frying and coffee brewing. I avoid them on purpose, spending most of my time in my room.

One day I'm scrolling through Instagram and see Kaley's post.

The photo shows Marcus bringing her a breakfast tray. Caption: "Happiest when someone's taking care of me."

The comments are blowing up.

"OMG you guys are so cute together!"

"Is that your boyfriend?? He's spoiling you!"

"I'm so jealous, when are you making it official?"

I stare at those comments for a long time. Finally close out of the app.

They think he's her boyfriend. Nobody knows the guy spoiling her is actually my husband.

I tell myself not to care. I'm dying anyway. What does it matter if she gets to keep the title?

But the irony is, just when I think I can spend my remaining time in peace, things go sideways.

Fourth night, past midnight. Shouting downstairs wakes me up.

When I get down there, Kaley's sobbing so hard she can barely breathe. My parents are panicking around her. She reeks of alcohol, her cheeks flushed red.

"I... I hit somebody..." She's choking on the words. "I don't know what happened to him. I freaked out and just... I drove away..."

I'm standing at the bottom of the stairs. I know exactly what happened.

Kaley's never been good at following rules. These past few days cooped up at home probably drove her crazy. Tonight she must've snuck out to drink with friends, drove drunk, hit someone, and ran home scared.

Marcus shows up too. He listens to the whole thing, his face going dark for a second, but then he smooths it over. He comforts Kaley for a bit, then turns to look at me.

"Evelyn, you're going to turn yourself in."

I freeze.

His voice is matter-of-fact. "You two look exactly alike. Nobody can tell you apart. And you're the older sister, you're way healthier than she is. You need to take the fall for this."

"Don't worry, I'll get a lawyer to work out a settlement with the victim. I've got people at the DA's office. Worst case, you'll be locked up for a few days, then we bail you out."

My parents' eyes light up. They immediately chime in. "Yes! You have to do this! Your sister's too sick, she'd never survive in there!"

I open my mouth. I want to say I have brain cancer. That I might not make it through the month.

But looking at their faces, so sure of themselves, the words die in my throat. What's the point? They wouldn't believe me. They wouldn't care.

"Fine."

Marcus nods, satisfied, and immediately pulls out his phone to call 911.

I turn and go back upstairs. Close my door.

My room is still full of things I haven't dealt with. I grab a garbage bag and start shoving stuff in. Wedding photos, family pictures, birthday gifts Marcus gave me. All of it goes in the trash.

Halfway through, a violent wave of dizziness hits me.

I grab the edge of the bed and drop to my knees. My vision blurs. Something warm drips from my nose onto the floor.

I press my hand to my nose. Blood soaks through my fingers within seconds.

My body's giving out.

The door opens. Marcus is standing there. He sees me kneeling on the floor with blood streaming from my nose. He hesitates.

"What happened?"

I grab tissues fast, pressing them against my nose, trying to sound normal. "Just tripped. It's nothing."

He frowns, staring at me for a few seconds, but doesn't push it.

"Cops are here." He says. "But don't worry, my lawyer's on the way. You'll only be in there a few days. I'll have him negotiate a settlement with the victim, then post bail and get you out."

He turns and leaves. His footsteps fade down the hall.

I'm sitting on the floor, looking at the blood-soaked tissues in my hand.

I might not even last a few days.